License-tag holder



Gat. 2l, 1930. c. s. HARRIS LICENSE TAG HOLDER Filed Jan. 9, 1950 IT-l n 5 wYf/.r

wg y@ Patented Oct. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE LICENSE-TAG HOLDER Application led January 9, 1930. Serial No. 419,557.

This invention is a license tag holder for automobiles, and the object is to provide such holder in a form designed to prevent the theft or removal of the tag from the holder without cutting and practically destroying the tag itself, thereby preventing the use by transposition of the same tag upon two or more cars, and also tending to reduce the danger of theft of the automobile itself.

In the drawing Figure lis an elevation of the holder, showinor a license tag mounted therein;

igure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, except that the medial portion of the license tag is shown cut away on the dotted lines of F 1 ure 1 and the outer flange of the slideway o the supporting or carrying frame is removed so as to show the locklng mechanism seated within the recess provided in the margin of the outer frame;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fi ure 3.

he invention com rises an outer carrying frame 1 which is to be permanently secured to the automobile (not shown) in any desired manner. This frame consists of the base plate 2, the overturned end portions 3 and the overturned bottom ortion 4, which are overturned in spaced re ation to the back plate 1, thereby forming slideways 5. Recesses 6 are formed in the ends of the frame, the same opening into the lateral slideways 5, and locking pawls 7 are pivoted at 8 within these recesses. These pawls are normally urged outwardly by fiat springs 9 mounted within the recesses. A two-piece license frame or tag holder is provided, the same consisting of a solid back plate 10 from which are extended the corner pins 11, and the open frame 12 having the corner vholes 13 adapted to freely engage the corner pins 11 and seat thereupon. Registering lock notches 14 are formed in the lateral edges of the plate 10 and the frame 12. The thickness of the plate 10 and frame 12 bear such relation to the width of the slideways 5 that they will slide freely and snugly thereinto, and the notches 14 are so formed and located that when these elements are so 50 slid into place, the pawls 7 will spring outwardly into the said notches, thereby locking the said elements into the outer frame 1. The back plate 10 is formed with a longitudinal countersunk groove 15 openin out at either end u-pon the pawls 7, an the medial, short, transverse key oove I6 which cuts across the groove 15. nlocking slides 17 are freely seated within the roove 15 and the key 18 is seated within the ey roove 16 between the ends of the slides 17. hese ele- 00 -ments are so proportioned and arran ed that they stand ushwith the surface of tie plate 10 and when in position permit the pawls 7 to swing out into the notches 14 of the elements 10 and 12, with the outer ends of the 05 slides 17 just touching the said pawls;

In use the license plate or tag 19 is provided with holes 20 registering with the corner pins 11 of the plate 10, over which the said tag is then seated. The frame 12 is then 70 superimposed upon theta b likewise assing the pins 11 through t e oles 13 o the frame, and finall these assembled elements are then thrust own into the slideways 5, whereupon the pawls 7 engage the notches 75 14 and lock the said elements formally in lace within the outer frame 1. Thus locked 1n place, the tag 19 cannot be removed without cutting and mutilatin the tag itself,thus rendering it unfit for furt er use, or without 50 sus icion attaching to such use. When it is esired legitimately to remove the tag for the insertion of a new one, as at the beginning of a new year, this is accomplished by merely cutting away the tag on the broken lines 21 35 and bending the tag down, after which the key 18 may be removed and the slides 17 ushed outwardl against the pawls 7, therey freeinglthem rom the notches 14 and permitting t e removal of the frame elements 9 10 and 12 bearing the tag 19 between them.

While I have herein described a certain specific manner and method of constructing and assembling the elements of my invention, it is understood `that I may vary from the same in minor details, not departing from the spirit of my invention, so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a license late holder, a base plate having slideways Eirmed therein at the sides and bottom, the top bein open and the lateral slideways being exten ed to form recesses, lock pawls mounted Within the said recesses and springset to swing outwardl a license tag holder adapted to slide in sai slideways, the same having lateral notches adapted to be enga ed by the said pawls for locking the tag hol er in place in the base plate.

2. In a license late holder, a base plate having slidewa s ormed therein at the sides and bottom, t e top being open and the lateral slideways being extended to form recesses, lock pawls mounted within the said recesses and springset to swing outwardly, a license tag holder adapted to slide in said slideways, the same having lateral notches adapted to be engaged by the said pawls for locking the tag holder in place in the base plate, and means so located as-to be covered by a license tag when in place in the holder for disengaging the said pawls from the said notches.

3. In a license plate holder, a base plate open at the top and having slideways at the sides and bottom thereof, the lateral slideways being extended to form recesses, lock pawls pivoted within the said recesses, the said pawls be-ing springset to normally swing outwardly, a back plate, corner ins extended from the back plate, an open rame having corner holes therein registering with the said pins of the back plate, the said back plate and frame being adapted to slide within the slideways of the base plate and having lateral notches adapted to lockingly engage the said lock pawls of the base plate when slid thereinto.

4. In a license plate holder, a base plate open at the top and having slideways at the sides and bottom thereof, the lateral slideways being extended to form recesses, lock pawls pivoted within the said recesses, the said pawls being springset to normally swing outwardly, a back plate, corner pins extended from the back plate, an open frame having corner holes therein registering with the said pins of the back plate, the said back plate and frame being adapted to slide with`y in the slideways of the base plate and having lateral notches adapted to lockingly engage the said lock pawls of the base plate when slid thereinto, and means mounted upon the back plate for disengaging the said pawls of the base plate from the notches of the said back plate and frame, the said means being so located as to be covered by a license tag when mounted between the said back plate and frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES SHERVOOD HARRIS. 

